There are a lot of dishes to love in Panda Express and broccoli beef is one of them. It is flavorful, a relatively healthy choice and a perfect combo meal along with orange chicken and chow mein.
Panda Express broccoli beef is easy to prepare and recreate too. This post gives you a guide to everything Panda Express broccoli beef so if you are a fan of the dish, read on.
Table of Contents
What is Panda Express broccoli beef?
This well-loved Panda Express dish gives you a bowl of tender flank steak combined with the crunch of half-steamed broccoli in thick garlic and ginger brown sauce. Everything is balanced and flavorful with this one. It is no wonder why it has become a favorite Chinese takeout meal.
Ingredients & substitute
If you are wondering about the ingredients to be prepared in making your own broccoli beef, here is what a list of what you should get:
- Rice wine
- Oyster sauce
- Water
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar
- Cornstarch
- Flank steak
- Broccoli florets
- Wok oil
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Sesame seeds
If one of these are not in your pantry, here are some substitutes that you should score:
- Worcestershire sauce and/or honey for oyster sauce
- Hoisin and fish sauce for the soy sauce
- Olive oil for canola or vegetable oil
- Mirin for rice wine
- Stevia for brown sugar
Panda Express broccoli beef calories & nutrition
This dish is something that we can consider healthy-ish. It is relatively high in calories at 315kcal. It is also quite carb high compared to other Panda Express dishes. Other than this, it is also high in sodium and cholesterol. But to be fair, it is also packed with Vitamin A and C, potassium, and fiber.
Tools used in the recipe
Now that you know the needed ingredients, the following would be the tools that you need:
- Ziploc bags
- Wok (or non-stick skillet)
- Steamer
- Mixing bowl
- Mixing spoon
Panda express broccoli beef sauce
The sauce of Panda Express broccoli beef is what can be considered as a traditional Asian sauce. It is made with a blend of soy sauce, cornstarch, minced garlic and ginger, and brown sugar. You can also modify it by adding rice wine, or mirin, as well as honey.
How to make Panda Express broccoli beef
In making Panda Express broccoli beef, first you must tenderize the meat by marinating it for 20mins. After which get the sauce ready and then steam the broccoli florets. When everything is done, stir-fry the beef and the broccoli on a wok, add the sauce and top with sesame seeds.
- Prepare a Ziploc bag. Put the flank steak inside and add cornstarch and the Shaoxing wine. Squeeze the bag many times for everything to blend. Let the meat seat there for 20mins.
- While waiting for the marinade, half-steam the broccoli for 3mins.
- In a separate bowl, mix oyster sauce, water, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, and brown sugar. Stir well.
- Prepare the wok and put the heat on high. Gradually add the sesame oil and vegetable oil. Add a third of the flank steak and sear for 1min on each side. Cook the next batches of flank steak.
- Remove all the flank steak and saute the garlic and ginger. Toss in the beef and then add the broccoli.
- Stir the sauce from the mixing bowl and pour in the pan. Add cornstarch to thicken it more (but only if needed).
- Garnish with sesame seeds and serve warm.
Variations to Panda Express broccoli beef
This dish is a very versatile one as it could be cooked in varied ways. For starters, you can add more vegetables to go with the broccoli. You can always add carrots, mushrooms, bell peppers, and cauliflower.
For the meat, you can also opt for pork and chicken slices. Or if you want a vegan substitute, you can go for fried tofu. You can also modify the kick by adding chopped chilies on it.
More Panda Express copycat recipes
- Panda Express Teriyaki Chicken
- Panda Express kung pao chicken
- Panda Express super greens
- Panda Express broccoli beef (you’re here)
- Panda Express black pepper chicken
- Panda Express Mushroom Chicken
- Panda Express cream cheese Rangoon
- Panda Express string bean chicken breast
- Panda Express eggplant tofu
- Panda Express Beijing beef
- Panda Express orange chicken
- Panda Express fried rice
- Panda Express chow mein
- Panda Express Honey Sesame Chicken
- Panda Express honey walnut shrimp
- Panda Express sweet and sour sauce
How to store Panda Express broccoli beef
Never refrigerate warm broccoli beef because it will make it faster to spoil. Make sure that leftover broccoli beef is cool first before transferring it in airtight containers to be kept in the fridge. When stored in the fridge, you can consume it in five days.
Can you freeze Panda Express broccoli beef?
Yes, and it can last for up to a month. Just make sure that it is packed in a well-sealed container.
What does Panda Express broccoli beef taste like?
Panda Express broccoli beef is sweet, a bit salty, and has that signature umami taste that makes it a sought-after Panda Express dish. It is really something that you cannot get enough of.
Is Panda Express broccoli beef healthy?
Well, given its protein, fiber, and mineral content, we can say that Panda Express broccoli beef is healthy. You get the protein from the lean beef, and the vitamins, minerals, and fiber from the broccoli. Plus, you can always switch to olive oil and healthier choices for the other ingredients.
Is Panda Express broccoli beef keto-friendly?
Yes. Aside from it not going beyond the 22g max carbs to pass as a keto meal, you can get lots of lean protein from the beef and fiber from the broccoli. It is a satisfying and filling meal for people on keto diet.
Is Panda Express broccoli beef gluten-free?
No, because of the soy sauce and the cornstarch. But you can always switch to gluten-free ingredients such as using gluten-free tamari sauce or foregoing the cornstarch.
Is Panda Express broccoli beef vegan?
Well, it is not broccoli beef without the beef so no, this Panda Express dish is not vegan. But if you want the same taste, minus the beef, you can always go for fried tofu as a substitute.
Panda Express Beef and Broccoli Copycat {7 Steps}
There are a lot of dishes to love in Panda Express and broccoli beef is one of them. It is flavorful, a relatively healthy choice and a perfect combo meal along with orange chicken and chow mein. For an easy whip Panda Express broccoli beef, here is a recipe you can try.
Ingredients
- 1lb flank steak (finely chopped against the grain)
- 3tbsp Shaoxing wine
- 1lb broccoli florets
- 2 garlic cloves
- 1tsp minced garlic
- 1tbsp cornstarch
- 1tbsp brown sugar
- 1tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- ¼ tsp sesame oil
- 2tbsp oyster sauce
- 2tsps sesame seeds
Instructions
- Prepare a Ziploc bag. Put the flank steak inside and add cornstarch and the Shaoxing wine. Squeeze the bag many times for everything to blend. Let the meat seat there for 20mins.
- While waiting for the marinade, half-steam the broccoli for 3mins.
- In a separate bowl, mix oyster sauce, water, Shaoxing wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, and brown sugar. Stir well.
- Prepare the wok and put the heat on high. Gradually add the sesame oil and vegetable oil. Add a third of the flank steak and sear for 1min on each side. Cook the next batches of flank steak.
- Remove all the flank steak and saute the garlic and ginger. Toss in the beef and then add the broccoli.
- Stir the sauce from the mixing bowl and pour in the pan. Add cornstarch to thicken it more (but only if needed).
- Garnish with sesame seeds and serve warm.
Notes
Make sure to have a timer with you. Everything should be cooked following the indicated time for each.
Nutrition Information
Serving Size 1Amount Per Serving Calories 315Total Fat 13gCholesterol 68mgSodium 597mgCarbohydrates 16gFiber 3gSugar 4gProtein 28g
Conclusion
Beef broccoli is one of the most loved dishes from Panda Express. It is a filling and flavorful dish that is good for people on keto diet.
It is also a versatile dish for those who are on a gluten-free and vegan lifestyle. It can be modified in terms of ingredients and overall, it is easy to replicate.
